Kodak announces new 3.3 megapixel digicam!(UPDATED)By
Mike Tomkins(Tuesday, August 14, 2001 - 01:00 EDT)DX3900 features optical zoom, manual controls...Eastman Kodak Co. will today announce three new digital cameras to its 'EasyShare' series, which was first introduced with the DX3500 and DX3600 digital cameras last April. The new Kodak EasyShare DX3900 Zoom is the highest specification of the three new units. Priced at $449, the camera features a 3.3 megapixel image sensor, 2x optical zoom lens, and - unlike the other two cameras - CompactFlash storage. There's also video (NTSC/PAL) connectivity, a macro mode, and manual features such as white balance and ISO settings not found on the lower-spec cameras.

All three cameras are compatible with the EasyShare camera dock, which is an optional accessory through which the camera can be recharged and images transferred via USB connection to a PC or Macintosh computer. Since the cameras don't come with the EasyDock by default, a separate USB cable is provided, and non-rechargeable Lithium batteries are included in each bundle.

The Kodak EasyShare DX3900 Zoom will ship this month at a price of $449. Full specifications for the camera are already in our database, and highlights follow:

Kodak Expands EasyShare System with New Family of Digital Cameras and Enhanced Picture Software for Better Home Printing

ROCHESTER, N.Y., August 14 - Eastman Kodak Company today announces the expansion of the Kodak EasyShare digital photography system with three new digital cameras - the Kodak EasyShare DX3900 Zoom, DX3700 and DX3215 Zoom - plus two new Kodak inkjet papers, EasyShare accessories and enhanced Kodak Picture Software. These products in combination offer consumers more options for printing Kodak-quality pictures at home or online. Based on a recent agreement with Microsoft, all Kodak EasyShare cameras will work well with the upcoming release of the Windows XP operating system.

Leveraging the popularity of the Kodak EasyShare camera docking system, the new Kodak digital cameras make picture taking and sharing one-button simple. The Kodak EasyShare camera dock makes it easier than ever to move pictures from the camera to a computer by automatically uploading images with a simple press of a button. Pictures can be viewed, enhanced, e-mailed or printed as the camera dock simultaneously charges the camera's battery pack.

The new EasyShare cameras are shipping with enhanced Kodak Picture Software, which automatically enables any inkjet printer to produce Kodak-quality photos at home. When the software is used with Kodak's new Ultima or Premium Picture Paper, prints last for decades, yet another benefit of the combination of imaging with information technology.

"These new Kodak digital cameras round out the EasyShare camera portfolio and extend it up to three megapixels, delivering outstanding pictures as large as 11x14 inches," said Willy Shih, president of Kodak's Digital and Applied Imaging unit. "When combined with our range of new inkjet papers, accessories and enhanced Kodak Picture Software, we're delivering on our promise of making great digital pictures one-button simple."

The EasyShare system brings the benefit of simplicity to people in the digital age by integrating digital cameras, imaging networks and services/media into one system. The EasyShare camera portfolio, new papers and online photofinishing are an example of how Kodak is taking advantage of the infoimaging market, a $225 billion industry created by the convergence of images and information technology. EasyShare fulfills the promise of infoimaging by connecting devices, such as digital cameras, to the photofinishing infrastructure, online picture services and inkjet media to provide people with easy ways to print and share great pictures.

Features of New Camera ModelsThe Kodak EasyShare DX3900 Zoom Digital Camera, the most sophisticated of the new models, features 3.1-megapixel resolution and a powerful 6X zoom capability (2X optical, 3X digital). This feature-rich camera allows picture-takers to choose between fully automatic functions or manual settings for enhanced creative control. Available in August, the DX3900 ships with an 8 MB COMPACTFLASH Card and has a suggested list price of $449.

The Kodak EasyShare DX3700 Digital Camera, with a resolution of 3.1 megapixels, can produce photo-realistic prints up to 11x14 inches. It has 8 MB of internal memory, a MultiMedia Card (MMC) / Secure Digital (SD) card expansion slot and 3X digital zoom capability. The DX3700 has a suggested list price of $399 and will be available in September.

The Kodak EasyShare DX3215 Zoom Digital Camera is the most affordable camera in the line. It has 4X zoom capability (2X optical, 2X digital) and 8 MB of internal memory. An MMC / SD card expansion slot offers the option of adding more memory. And, with a 1.3-megapixel CCD (1280 X 960 resolution), the camera provides great quality prints up to 5x7 inches. Available in September, it has a suggested list price of $199.

New Inkjet MediaAlso announced today are two new Kodak inkjet photo paper products. Kodak Ultima Picture Paper for Borderless Inkjet Prints, a high gloss paper, provides borderless prints that have the look and feel of professional photographs. Micro-perforated for easy separation, the new paper enables users to create true, 4 x 6-inch pictures. Users simply print and tear along the perforation for crisp, edge-to-edge prints every time. This new paper has a suggested retail price of $9.99 for 20 sheets.

Kodak Picture Paper for Inkjet Prints adds a new, affordable, matte-surfaced paper to its product lineup. Coated on both sides for versatility, Kodak Picture Paper is ideal for printing two-sided album pages - or any other kind of photo - on medium weight stock. Also available in soft gloss, Kodak Picture Paper for Inkjet Prints has a suggested retail price of $9.99 for 25 sheets.

EasyShare AccessoriesA variety of accessories round out the EasyShare product offering and complement the Kodak EasyShare system. New accessories include:

Kodak EasyShare Camera Dock -- Users simply place their camera in the Kodak EasyShare camera dock, touch the button and their pictures are automatically sent to their computer. All Kodak EasyShare cameras are specifically designed to work with the camera dock, which is available separately at a suggested price of $79.95. The dock includes a Kodak EasyShare Ni-MH rechargeable battery pack.Kodak EasyShare Travel Kit - To enhance the portability of the EasyShare system, this travel kit includes Kodak EasyShare Ni-MH rechargeable battery pack, Kodak EasyShare rapid charger, premium camera bag, and interchargeable power clips for international travel (110-240 volt). The travel kit has a suggested price of $39.95.Kodak EasyShare Rapid Charger - Perfect for any picture-taker on the go, the portable rapid charger recharges the EasyShare battery pack in approximately 2.5 hours and has a suggested price of $34.95.Kodak Memory Cards - Increasing the number of pictures people can take, Kodak offers 16 MB to 192 MB COMPACTFLASH Cards. The cards can be used in all enabled devices including the DX3900 Zoom, as well as previously announced models DX3500 and DX3600 Zoom. For the DX3215 Zoom and DX3700 models, MultiMedia Cards are available in 16MB, 32MB and 64MB sizes. These cards have a suggested price range of $34.95 to $74.90.

Kodak and infoimagingEastman Kodak Company is the world's leader in helping people and businesses take, share, store, and print pictures - traditional or digital. Kodak's sales last year of nearly $14 billion were divided between consumer and commercial products and services, such as professional and consumer digital cameras, laser imagers for radiologists, photographic films for professionals and amateurs, digital services for cinematographers, high-speed document scanners and aerial images. Kodak is a leading participant in infoimaging, a $225 billion industry created by the convergence of images and information technology. Infoimaging unites three closely related imaging markets - devices, such as Kodak EasyShare digital cameras, as well as infrastructure and services/media - that enable people to more easily take and share pictures as information, entertainment or memories. The Kodak EasyShare system connects the three categories of infoimaging: devices, infrastructure and services / media.